Latest Information

Traffic and Transport - Our plans

Traffic can be one of the more immediate impacts from any new development. This can be either during the construction phase (deliveries to the site and site workers) or the operating phase (mainly employees), or both.

Equally, there are many ways to reduce these potential impacts. During the construction and operation of the mine, workers will car-share and use park and ride services to attend site. Shifts will be staggered to avoid traffic build up at particular peak-times, such as during school runs.

Our proposed development will access the main road network via the B46 (Crockanboy Road). This road has a traffic capacity of some 13,000 vehicles per day.

As part of our planning process, independent experts examined the impact to local communities of a rise in the number of vehicles on the road network, especially around the villages of Greencastle, Rouskey and Gortin.

A great mine needs great people

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Canada's mining experience generates thriving communities

In Canada, gold mining is a well-established and regulated industry, adding almost CDN$60 billion to the economy in 2015 and helping bring prosperity to communities across the country.

The Abitibi region, about 300 miles north-west of Montreal, is one of the richest areas in Canada for gold deposits and is geologically similar to Northern Ireland and Scotland. Since 1901, the region has been home to around 100 mines and has produced more than 170 million ounces of gold.

But the Abitibi region isn’t just home to gold fields, it is also renowned for its scenery and is a popular destination for fishing and hunting, with a tourist industry built up around those activities.

For more than 100 years, gold mining has taken place in an area of natural beauty and pristine fishing lakes, allowing both the mining sector and tourism to flourish side-by-side. Many of the mines are located next to towns and approximately 1 in 6 local people are directly employed by the mining industry, with at least one indirect job created for each direct job.

A great mine needs great people

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Supporting the community in West Tyrone

The formal stakeholder consultation process on our planning application to build an underground gold mine commenced last week with the advert placed by the Department
for Infrastructure (DfI) in local papers across Tyrone.

The ad summarizes the main aspects of the proposal and invites members of the public to give their opinion on the regionally significant application. Letters have also been sent by DfI to members of the public who live in the surrounding area of the proposed mine to inform
them about how to access the application and submit their views on the proposal to the department.

DfI will also request comments on the application from statutory and non-statutory consultees, which includes the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and other regulatory organisations.

A great mine needs great people

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Supporting the community in West Tyrone

The formal stakeholder consultation process on our planning application to build an underground gold mine commenced last week with the advert placed by the Department
for Infrastructure (DfI) in local papers across Tyrone.

The ad summarizes the main aspects of the proposal and invites members of the public to give their opinion on the regionally significant application. Letters have also been sent by DfI to members of the public who live in the surrounding area of the proposed mine to inform
them about how to access the application and submit their views on the proposal to the department.

DfI will also request comments on the application from statutory and non-statutory consultees, which includes the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and other regulatory organisations.

A great mine needs great people

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Supporting the community in West Tyrone

Community, cultural, social, sporting and environmental groups and clubs play a pivotal role in any local area. So do local schools and further education colleges. In recognition of the vital work these groups undertake every day, Dalradian is committed to providing funding and to volunteering on local projects in west Tyrone.

We began work on the Curraghinalt Gold Project in 2010 and since then, from modest beginnings, we have supported the local community in a variety of ways.

In the early days, we assisted some local community and sporting groups financially, our staff helped at festivals and fundraising events and we identified environmental projects where our help was needed. Over the years we have continued our involvement with these projects to maximise the benefit of our help and donations.

In 2015, Dalradian established the Tyrone Fund. Since then we have donated almost £270,000 to a range of sporting clubs, community and cultural groups and sporting organisations. Our funding has supported local churches, local community and farming associations, schools and sporting clubs and environmental projects.

A great mine needs great people

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An underground mine designed to blend in

We are committed to building a mine that is modern, safe and environmentally responsible.

Ensuring that the landscape is preserved and maintained is a core focus of our planning application. All mining at the Curraghinalt gold deposit will take place underground.

There will not be any “open pits”, which is a type of mining that is much more visible, noisy and dusty. That means that disruption to the landscape around the villages of Gortin, Greencastle and Rousky will be kept to a minimum.

View from Crockanboy Road currently View from Crockanboy Road at end of the mine’s life
View from Mullaghcarn currently View from Mullaghcarn at end of the mine’s life
During operations, almost all of the activity will take place underground.

On surface, operations will be housed in buildings that are designed to blend in with the rural character of the area and will be removed once mining is complete. In addition, we will be storing crushed rock from our processing operations in a dry stack facility (see advertorial from week of February 5), which is safer and allows us to rehabilitate the land as we go. Below are
pictures from several local viewpoints showing the current landscape around our proposed
underground mine and how it will look when operations cease.

A great mine needs great people

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A great mine needs great people

Dalradian is committed to building a mine that is modern, safe and environmentally responsible. A “best in class” operation, globally. We often get asked what the visual impact of the operation will be at our proposed site between Greencastle and Rouskey. Even though we are building an underground gold mine there will be some operations on the surface. These include a water treatment plant, processing plant, workshop, mine rescue building, administrative offices and a dry stack tailings facility.

What are dry stack tailings?
The short answer is crushed rock that resembles a ‘damp sand’. As part of the mining process, rock is taken from underground and then crushed and ground until it is the size of sand. The crushed rock with gold is separated out, and some of the crushed rock with no gold is pressed to remove most of the water and built into the shape of a hill near to the mill (dry stack tailings). The rest of it is returned underground.

The material with no gold is produced by physical processes only and has been extensively tested to prove its safety. The dry stack will also contain some intact rock with no gold, which will be layered with the crushed rock to form a stable structure.

The planning application for the regionally significant project runs to more than 10,000 pages and includes almost 40 detailed reports by experts from internationally recognised environmental consulting firms.

A large part of the application concerns the environment and the measures which we will take to build a safe gold mine. As part of our application we have outlined how we will implement stringent, best practice environmental monitoring and mitigation measures which meet or exceed regulatory requirements.

A gold mine in west Tyrone will be economically transformative for the area. An independent feasibility study has shown that more than 350 full-time, permanent jobs will be created once the mine is fully operational.

Consultation on Gold Mine plans starting soon

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A great mine needs great people

On 27 November 2017 Dalradian submitted a planning application (LA10/2017/1249/F) to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to build an underground gold mine at the Curraghinalt deposit between Rouskey and Greencastle.

The planning application for the regionally significant project runs to more than 10,000 pages and includes almost 40 detailed reports by experts from internationally recognised environmental consulting firms.

A large part of the application concerns the environment and the measures which we will take to build a safe gold mine. As part of our application we have outlined how we will implement stringent, best practice environmental monitoring and mitigation measures which meet or exceed regulatory requirements.

A gold mine in west Tyrone will be economically transformative for the area. An independent feasibility study has shown that more than 350 full-time, permanent jobs will be created once the mine is fully operational.

In addition, $1 billion will be spent over the lifetime of the mine, providing opportunities for local businesses in Tyrone and across Northern Ireland. Last week, DfI finished uploading all of the documents forming this extensive application
(approximately 100 in total).

Consultation on Gold Mine plans starting soon

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A great mine needs great people

At Dalradian, we are always looking for great people. Our proposed gold mine at the Curraghinalt deposit between Rouskey and Greencastle will create 350 permanent direct jobs for West Tyrone while operating to the highest environmental standards.
Having submitted our planning application last month, we have launched a careers section on our website at www.dalradianni.com/careers/. The information that we gather will assist us in assessing interest and skills levels as we refine our plans for employment and training at the mine. Over the past 8 years of operating our exploration site at the Curraghinalt gold deposit we have been fortunate to work with many people from County Tyrone, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds. The new careers section now means it’s easier for people to contact us and tell us what type of job they would be interested in.

The new section contains 20 different job types under five different categories and allows you to contact us by selecting which type of job you are interested in and providing contact details. You can also send us a CV and a covering letter through the careers section to tell us a bit more about your skills and experience. Your name will be added to our jobs update email list and you will automatically hear about any current job searches.

The application has taken several years to complete and is informed by the multiple engagements and public consultations we have held with the communities in Greencastle, Rouskey, Gortin and beyond over the past two years. These engagements were held not only to give you a broad overview of our project and the chance to ask questions, but to tell us what you like and don’t like about our plans. Your opinions helped shape our final planning application.

World-class mine

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World-class mine

Last week we submitted our planning application to build a gold mine at the Curraghinalt deposit between Rouskey and Greencastle. The application runs to more than 10,000 pages and includes nearly 40 detailed reports by independent experts from internationally recognised environmental consulting firms.

The application has taken several years to complete and is informed by the multiple engagements and public consultations we have held with the communities in Greencastle, Rouskey, Gortin and beyond over the past two years. These engagements were held not only to give you a broad overview of our project and the chance to ask questions, but to tell us what you like and don’t like about our plans. Your opinions helped shape our final planning application.

A large part of our application concerns the environmental impacts of our project and mitigation measures, from opening to closure. We address topics such as air quality and noise, water, health, ecology, economics, landscape and visual, traffic, closure and reclamation. We are building a safe project and all of our processes have been designed to meet or exceed regulatory requirements.

Now that the application has been submitted with all of the detailed and finalised plans for the project, consultation enters a new phase. The public, planning consultees and

We're listening: add your voice to the planning process

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World-class mine

After seven years of exploration, engineering and environmental studies, earlier this week Dalradian Gold lodged a planning application for a gold mine in Tyrone.
Over the coming period people will have the opportunity to comment on our proposals.

This project has the potential to transform the local economy West of the Bann and will be done so according to the highest environmental standards.
Our planning application runs to approximately 100 documents and will be subjected to a rigorous planning process.

Full details of the application will be available shortly at www.planningni.gov.uk

Jobs in Tyrone

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Innovative approaches for protecting the environment

Storing mine waste safely and responsibly is a top priority for Dalradian Resources and a fundamental part of the planning application for our proposed gold mine at Curraghinalt in west Tyrone.

Most of the waste from the mining process, consisting largely of uneconomic rock and processed ore, will be stored underground in keeping with a key objective of the EU Mining Waste Directive and to minimise disruption to the local landscape.

A small proportion of waste rock and ore which has been processed solely through physical means – including crushing, grinding and flotation, the
industry term is “flotation tailings” – will be stored on the surface.

We plan to manage the surface disposal of this waste material using a method known as dry stack tailings. This approach has many advantages over older methods and is widely recognized as a best practice in the mining industry.

Historically, mines around the world have used use wet tailings systems, which involve large areas enclosed by dams or berms, with the tailings deposited
behind these in a slurry. There are examples, some quite recent, of tailings dam failures, some of which have caused significant environmental damage.

World-class Mine

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A clear commitment to clean water

At Dalradian Gold, we understand that careful resource management is essential to the success of our business.

That’s why at our current exploration site, we often go beyond regulatory requirements for environmental protection.

This high level of care is also demonstrated in our plans for a future mine at Curraghinalt, which includes a state-of-the-art water treatment facility.

World-class Mine

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A new $1 Billion industry for Tyrone

Dalradian’s project represents a great opportunity for Tyrone, a county with a strong history of mineral extraction, manufacturing and engineering.

Some of the world’s leading mineral and construction material handling equipment manufacturers are based in Tyrone and a gold mine in the county is a great fit for the skills, know-how and experience that already exist there.

I am sure that building on that collective experience, Dalradian’s gold mine will be a major boost to the economy in Tyrone and indeed for the whole of the west of the Bann.

World-class Mine Jobs in Tyrone

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A Great mine needs great people

Dalradian Gold has been exploring its high-grade Curraghinalt gold deposit since 2009 and will be submitting a planning application shortly to build a mine at Curraghinalt. Currently, we have nearly 100 people working in different occupations at our exploration site and our Omagh and satellite offices. The largest employer in the area, we use local suppliers and accommodation providers where possible, supporting other jobs locally. As our project moves forward, the number and type of high-quality jobs supported by Dalradian will more than triple.

Our jobs cannot be moved offshore because the gold we intend to mine – a deposit of more than four million ounces – is located right here in Tyrone. As soon as our planning application is approved, two years of construction will begin, directly employing 300 people. Once we begin operations, our direct workforce will grow to 350 or more, and span a broad range of occupations and backgrounds.

Gold mining depends upon a diverse range of skill-sets, many of which are found in the people and professions of Tyrone. Where there is a lack of experience we will provide appropriate further training and work with local institutions to bolster the skills needed for this burgeoning new industry.

We will hire heavy equipment mechanics, welders, drivers, equipment operators, millwrights, electricians, crusher operators, blasters and more. These jobs are essential to the operation of a mine; and while most will require good GCSE grades, NVQs or BTECs, or relevant work experience, they won’t require a degree.

Creating 350 jobs in County Tyrone

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Dalradian - Helping to protect the pearl mussel

Dalradian is proud to assist local community and conservation groups in safeguarding the environment.

A priority is keeping the rivers and waterways clean to protect the freshwater pearl mussel, an endangered species found in Co. Tyrone.

Freshwater pearl mussels are nature’s litmus test for the cleanliness and purity of our rivers and streams. Formerly abundant in Europe and a common sight in Northern Irish waters this ancient mollusc is now classified as a critically endangered species. Only six populations remain in Northern Ireland and three – in the Ballinderry, the Owenkillew and Owenreagh Rivers – are in County Tyrone.

Historically, freshwater pearl mussels were over-harvested by pearl fishers. In addition, the mollusc’s complex life-cycle makes it vulnerable to environmental change and impacts
related to agriculture.

For the first nine months of its life, the freshwater pearl mussel attaches to the gills of young salmon and trout, before detaching and burrowing underneath the gravel beds of rivers and streams. Therefore, both a healthy fish population and a clean water system are essential for its survival.

The mollusc lives underneath a riverbed for its first four years, where it feeds on algae. During this critical phase, too much silt and sediment in the water will deprive the mussel of oxygen, and potentially cause suffocation or poisoning.

A clear commitment to clean water

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Creating opportunities for business in Tyrone

Today, there are more than 100 people working on Dalradian Gold’s project in west Tyrone. Most are from the local community and live locally. We are proud to employ local people and, as we look to the future, are extremely fortunate to have such a motivated and skilled workforce here in Tyrone.

Across Northern Ireland we have spent more than £15 million in the same period. That figure excludes a further £12 million in salaries paid.

We also have thriving relationships with local suppliers and businesses – a diverse group that includes fuel, accommodation and food providers, transport companies and skilled tradespeople, like electricians, mechanics and welders.

Since Dalradian took over the exploration project at Curraghinalt, we have spent almost £1.5 million with local suppliers based in the Gortin, Rouskey and Greencastle areas alone.

In county Tyrone we have spent an additional £2.3 million with suppliers, businesses and entrepreneurs, bringing our total spend in the county to £3.8 million over the period.

This is evidence of our commitment and relationships with businesses in county Tyrone and indeed across the region.

Creating prospects for suppliers

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A clear commitment to clean water

The Curraghinalt exploration infrastructure site became active in 2014. From the start, in agreement with statutory bodies, we established a stringent environmental protection framework to ensure we maintain – and enhance, where possible – the integrity of the local environment.

Currently, water from the exploration site is released under a water discharge consent from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), which governs flow and 16 different aspects of water quality, including sediment and pH balance. The consent specifies a maximum sediment content of 50mg per litre; the sediment content in the water we discharge is typically less than 10mg per litre.

We can achieve this because of our on-site, multi-stage water purification system, which includes storage/settlement tanks and a clarifier. The system continuously monitors sediment levels prior to discharge and will automatically shut down any discharge if the maximum levels are approached.

The Owenkillew River near our site is designated as a Special Area of Conservation, which makes water discharge management a key priority. The river contains several protected species including the freshwater pearl mussel, which is very responsive to sediment levels.

Working to protect our natural resources

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The economic benefits of gold mining

For communities located near gold deposits, independent research, using examples from around the world, shows that mining brings investment, employment, training and local spending. Studies confirm that, on average around 90% of the employees working at gold mines are drawn from local communities; in mines operating in Canada and the United States, developed economies similar to Northern Ireland, that figure jumps to more than 95%. Hiring as many workers as possible from the local area concentrates the benefits of the project in the communities closest to the mine and also reduces employee turnover rates.

Experience demonstrates that the benefits of mining also extend well beyond the mine site. In established economies, for every job at the mine, twice as many people are employed indirectly –working for suppliers and enterprises that support the mine. So, it’s not surprising that 70% of the total expenditures by gold mining companies go toward payments to suppliers, contractors and employees.

In addition to jobs, mines provide their employees with training and skills they can use for a lifetime, usually across a range of industries.

At the majority of mines in developed economies, employee training is ongoing throughout the year and represents a substantial investment by the mine operators. For our proposed mine in County Tyrone, the annual training expenditure will be in the range of £1.5 million. During the first three years, we will spend more than £6 million.